The Gentle Counsellor

11/09/2025

Here is how you can help create safe environments...
🏡 At Home: build connections, encourage open communication, teach body safety and consent, use respectful discipline, celebrate individuality.
🎒 At School or Childcare: promote kindness and inclusion, have clear safety policies, provide trusted adults, listen to concerns, create a sense of belonging.
🤝 In the Community: be a protective bystander, support youth programs, speak up about unsafe behaviour, model respect and boundaries.

🌍 Globally: Currently there are real, urgent threats that children face worldwide, including violence, conflict, and unsafe environments created by adults.
- Gun violence (school shootings in the US)
- Genocides and War (Palestine, Congo, Sudan)
- Unequal enforcement of child protection laws and rights
- International agreements like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) aim to protect children, but not all governments uphold these equally

💛 What are some of your favourite children's books that speak on bigger topics? One of ours is 'Finding Our Heart: A Story about the Uluru Statement for Young Australians' by Thomas Mayo, illustrated by Blak Douglas.

At The Gentle Counsellor, I work with parents and families from a trauma-informed perspective, supporting them to break cycles, strengthen relationships, and create safety at home. My children’s books — Tricky People and the My Body series — are gentle, practical tools to start conversations about body safety, consent, and tricky situations. 📚

10/09/2025

💛 Keep Children Safe with 10 Practical Steps

1 Teach Body Autonomy – Children have the right to say “no” to unwanted touch. Model consent and praise boundary-setting.

2 Talk About Tricky People – Unsafe people aren’t always strangers. Teach children to trust instincts and talk to safe adults.

3 Make Conversations Normal – Ask open-ended questions, validate feelings, and check in regularly.

4 Address Online Safety Early – Keep devices in shared spaces, discuss privacy, and monitor online risks.

5 Build Emotional Literacy & Safety Skills – Help children identify and express feelings, solve problems, and recognise safe vs unsafe situations.

6 Establish Trusted Support Systems – Ensure children know multiple safe adults and create family safety plans.

7 Model Respectful Relationships – Demonstrate kindness, respect, and healthy boundaries in your own interactions.

8 Empower Children to Speak Up – Reinforce that their voice matters, validate their courage, and teach it’s ok to ask for help.

9 Engage in Global Awareness & Activism – Teach empathy for children worldwide. Discuss conflicts, war, or crises age-appropriately, and model ways to support humanitarian efforts.

10 Understand and Influence Systems – Stay informed about child protection laws and policies, advocate for safer systems, and teach older children the importance of civic engagement.

Children thrive when they feel safe, respected, and protected at home, at school, in the community, and globally.

At The Gentle Counsellor, I support families with trauma-informed counselling and offer resources like my children's books Tricky People and the My Body series, which are great tools to start conversations about body safety, consent, and tricky situations.

09/09/2025

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day.

It’s a day to honour the memories of those we’ve lost to su***de and to offer support to those facing difficult times and those living with the grief of losing someone.

The message of ‘Changing the Narrative on Su***de’ encourages us to change how we talk about su***de. To replace silence and stigma for empathy, compassion and action.

We all have a role to play in staying connected, showing up for those we care about and helping those struggling access the support they need.

Show the people around you that you’re there for them by asking 'are you OK?'. Because a conversation could change a life.

***dePreventionDay

09/09/2025

Children don’t always tell us with their words when something is wrong, but often their behaviour and feelings give us important clues.

That’s why part of child protection being everyone’s business is learning how to notice the signs that a child may be struggling or unsafe and what to do next.

Some signs can include:
⚠️ Sudden mood changes (withdrawn, fearful, anxious)
⚠️ Avoiding certain people or places
⚠️ Unexplained injuries or frequent 'accidents'
⚠️ Trouble sleeping or frequent nightmares
⚠️ Regression (clinginess, bedwetting, baby talk)
⚠️ Talking about secrets or being told to 'keep quiet'

If you notice these signs:
✔️ Stay calm and open
✔️ Listen and believe the child
✔️ Offer reassurance (“I believe you, it’s not your fault”)
✔️ Don’t promise secrecy
✔️ Document what you’ve noticed
✔️ Seek guidance from a professional or report if needed to your local authorities or emergency line

Every adult has a role in protecting children (parents, teachers, neighbours, coaches, health professionals, family, friends). By noticing, listening, and acting, you may be the safe adult a child desperately needs 💛

At The Gentle Counsellor, I support parents with trauma-informed counselling and tools to strengthen safe, secure relationships with their children. My children’s books Tricky People and the My Body series are also great resources to start conversations about body safety, consent, and difficult situations.

✨ How are YOU creating an environment where every child is safe, heard, and protected?

08/09/2025

Queensland Child Protection Week reminds us that keeping children safe is everyone’s business.

Children deserve to grow up feeling safe, valued, and heard. Sadly, too many experience harm through neglect, abuse, or simply not having their needs met. The research is clear - listening to children and young people is the number one way to support their safety and wellbeing.

As adults, we all have a role to play:
✔️ Notice the signs when a child may be struggling.
✔️ Create safe and nurturing environments at home, school, and in the community.
✔️ Speak up if you’re concerned about a child’s safety.
✔️ Use everyday moments to teach children about body autonomy, tricky people, and consent.

At The Gentle Counsellor, I work with parents and families from a trauma-informed approach, helping to break cycles, strengthen relationships, and build safe connections.

I’ve also written children’s books such as Tricky People and the My Body series to give families simple, gentle tools for talking about safety, consent, and boundaries in ways children understand. (Available on Amazon & my website).

Child protection is a shared responsibility so by working together we can make our society a place where all children are protected, respected, and thriving. 💛

💬 What’s one small way you help children in your life feel safe and heard?

07/09/2025

Welcome to my new Sunday series where I share with you the ways I’ve had to reparent myself throughout the week, coming from me as a counsellor.

Sometimes, reparenting ourselves requires a little more focus on the loving firm boundary side where maybe we don’t WANT to do something… but we actually *should* do it. For example, going for a walk is good for my body and soul, and part of being a responsible pet owner.

In another example with context, going for a walk could be painful for someone with chronic health issues and make them more miserable or too uncomfortable to then do other things that day. The reparenting in my example here wouldn’t be appropriate because they would actually need more validation, compassion, understanding, gentleness, and permission to rest.

Doing this work means tuning into YOUR specific needs on that particular day. We are not cookie cutter beings. We are unique and individual, and our needs can change daily.

With all that in mind, I wanted to share this example of how sometimes we do need to do something, and we can approach our resistance with love instead of shame.

What’s come up for you this week? 🧡

07/09/2025

04/09/2025

it might be frustrating at first, but others will follow (via katie_charlwood)

31/08/2025

Welcome to my new Sunday series where I share with you the ways I’ve had to reparent myself throughout the week, coming from me as a counsellor.

At first I thought I could share the things I’ve said as a parent but that felt like maybe exploiting my children online and violating their privacy… so I thought I’d out myself instead 😂 but jokes aside, I hope this actually helps others to both normalise the mental health struggles we all have, and to provide some ideas for ways you can reparent yourself.

Reparenting can be a really helpful way to repair and speak kindly to the wounded parts of yourself that may occasionally show up. The parts of you that needed someone to witness, to hold, to validate their feelings, to see their pain and not shame or ignore it, to help teach you with love…

This week I have two moments that stood out that I’d like to share with you. One was a particularly hard day where in the past I’d push myself and end up feeling worse, and the other was a moment with body image struggles.

In these moments where I have juuuuuust enough wisdom to realise I need to do something, I often prefer to think of these hurt parts of myself as if I were talking to a friend, or talking to myself at a younger age, or imagining it as a separate version or part of myself similar to the Inside Out movie. Then I connect my mind with my body, usually using deep slow breaths and placing my hand on my chest, and I speak internally or out loud, sometimes looking at myself in the mirror. I tell them what they need to hear with curiosity and compassion.

What do you think of this new series? Please let me know what else you’d find helpful 🥰

14/08/2025

Some wounds you can’t see.
Growing up with a narcissistic or emotionally abusive parent can shape the way you see yourself, others, and the world.

Research shows these experiences can lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, insecure attachment styles, and difficulties setting boundaries. But here’s the truth: none of it was your fault.

Healing is possible. With awareness, support, and boundaries, you can break the cycle and build the safe, loving connections you always deserved.

💬 Can you relate to some of the patterns in this post? You’re not alone! Share a ❤️ or comment to connect with others who get it.

13/08/2025

Going low or no contact is about protecting your mental health, breaking cycles of harm, and creating space for healing.

People make this choice when boundaries are ignored or abuse continues. You deserve relationships that are safe, respectful, and supportive.

If you’re struggling with guilt, remember that you're choosing self-preservation and wouldn't resort to this without good reason. The onus is not on you, how you have been treated to get to this point is not ok. It was them who made the choice to harm, and the choice to not change or repair.

Have you ever taken a step back from a family relationship? Share your experience or just drop a ❤️ to remind others they’re not alone.

05/08/2025

🌟 FREE resource! 🌟 If you'd like the link to this poster, just comment HEART and we’ll send it to you!

Do your students get discouraged sometimes? 💜

This "What to Tell Myself When I'm Feeling Discouraged" poster is just what they need! It's one of over 50 FREE digital downloads available in the WholeHearted shop, designed to give kids gentle reminders and boost their spirits.